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Overview

“An intriguing romp through Louis XV's France. Filled with lush backdrops, rich detail, and colorful characters, fans of historical fiction will enjoy this glimpse into the lost golden era of the French monarchy.” (Allison Pataki, author of The Accidental Empress)

Court intriguers are beginning to sense that young King Louis XV, after seven years of marriage, is tiring of his Polish wife. The race is on to find a mistress for the royal bed as various factions put their best feet—and women—forward. The King’s scheming ministers push sweet, naïve Louise, the eldest of the aristocratic Nesle sisters, into the arms of the King. Over the following decade, she and three of her younger sisters—ambitious Pauline; complacent Diane, and cunning Marie Anne—will conspire, betray, suffer, and triumph in a desperate fight for both love and power as each becomes the king’s favorite for a time.

In the tradition of The Other Boleyn Girl, The Sisters of Versailles is a clever, intelligent, and absorbing novel that historical fiction fans will devour. Based on meticulous research on a group of women never before written about in English, Sally Christie’s stunning debut is a complex exploration of power and sisterhood—of the admiration, competition, and even hatred that can coexist within a family when the stakes are high enough.

Product Details

About the Author

Sally Christie is the author of The Sisters of Versailles and The Rivals of Versailles. She was born in England and grew up around the world, attending eight schools in three different languages. She spent most of her career working in international development and currently lives in Toronto. Visit SallyChristieAuthor.com to find out more about Sally and the Mistresses of Versailles trilogy.

Read an Excerpt

The Sisters of Versailles

We were five sisters and four became mistresses of our king. Only I escaped his arms but that was my choice: I may be eighty-four years old, and all that I speak of may have happened in the far distance of the past, but in a woman vanity is eternal. So I need to tell you: I could have. Had I wanted. Because he—the king—he certainly wanted.

I’m not speaking of the last king, our sixteenth Louis, poor hapless man dead these six years on the guillotine, followed by his Austrian wife. No, here I talk of the fifteenth Louis, a magnificent king. I knew him when he was fresh and young, no hint of the debauched libertine that he would become in his later years, with his drooping eyes and sallow skin, his lips wet with lust.

The story of my sisters and Louis XV is today mostly forgotten, their memory eclipsed by more famous and more scandalous mistresses, and by the upheaval of the last decade. I too am forgetful now, my memory faded and worn as my sisters slip in and out of the shadows in my mind. I spend my hours immersed in a sea of their old letters; reading them, then rereading them, is both my comfort and my sorrow. Is anything more bittersweet than the pull of past memories? These letters, a portrait of one sister that hangs above the fireplace, and a faded sketch of another pressed between the pages of a Bible, are all that remain to me now.

It was years ago that it all began: 1729, almost three-quarters of a century past. It was such a different time then, a completely different world. We were secure and arrogant in our privilege, never suspecting that things might change, that the accident of birth might not always be the promise it once was. We were born daughters of a marquis; titles and courtesy and the perquisites of the nobility were all that we ever knew, but now, what do those things matter? Well, they still matter a lot, though all we citoyens must pretend they do not.

The world—our world—was softer then; those who could afford to do so buttered and feathered themselves until they were insulated from all of the unpleasant realities of life. We never dreamed—ever—that a horror like the Terror could happen.

We were five sisters in our childhood home on the Quai des Théatins. Our home was in the center of Paris on a road by the Seine, lined with the houses of the rich and powerful. The house still stands on that street, now renamed the Quai Voltaire to honor that great man. I shudder to think who may live there now.

It was a grand house, an elegant house, a reminder to all of our place in the world. I remember well my mother’s golden bedroom on the second floor, opulent and resplendent, the awe we felt when summoned for a visit. Of course, the nursery was not so grand; children in those days were mostly ignored, and so why waste money on things, or children, that were so rarely seen? Up in the aerie of our nursery on the fourth floor, the rooms were cold and bare, but comfortable, our haven in a heartless world.

We had no education to speak of; the aim was not an educated daughter, but a mannered daughter, one who knew her way through the intricate maze of politeness and social graces that governed our world. In truth, even with the wisdom that is supposed to come with age, I can’t say that more education would have served me better in my life.

We were five sisters and we had no brothers; my mother sometimes remarked, when she was happy on champagne, the misfortune that had cursed her so.

Though we sprang from the same parents, we were all so different. Oh, how different! Louise was the eldest, charming and somewhat pretty, nineteen when she was first presented at Court. She was a dreamer, always with stars in her eyes when she thought of her future and the happiness that would surely come for her.

Then there was Pauline, fierce with no softness in her body and a character to make a pirate proud. She was as headstrong as a horse and ruled the nursery; she towered over us, both in height and in strength. Even at seventeen, Pauline knew she would be powerful and important. How she knew that, I know not. But she knew.

Our next sister was Diane, fifteen then and always jolly, lax and lazy. She avoided conflict and only wanted to giggle and laugh and dream of becoming a duchess. Physically she reminded everyone of our sister Pauline, but without the force of personality. I suppose that was both a curse and a blessing.

Then there was I, only fourteen when everything changed. All called me the prettiest of the family and many commented on my likeness to my namesake, my famous great-grandmother Hortense Mancini, who in her time bewitched more than one king.

Finally there was little Marie-Anne, though it seems strange now to speak of her last. She was twelve and also very pretty, but hidden beneath her angel face was a sharp and shearing mind that emerged occasionally to astound our nursemaids.

I remember our years on the fourth floor of the Quai des Théatins as happy ones, years of light and love. Certainly, there were small differences, the usual squabbles and petty fights, but overall harmony reigned, a harmony that was all too precious and absent later in our lives. Perhaps there were signs, but they were faint and thin, mere whispers of the callousness and suffering to come. No, my memory is of a happy time, before the harsh world of adults caught us and covered us with its disappointments and cruelties, before we lost the closeness of our younger years and before Louise became broken, Pauline mean, Diane fat and lazy, and Marie-Anne manipulative and hard.

But through it all, through the good, the bad, the sin and the scandal, the heartbreak and the joy, the exiles and the deaths, through it all, they were my sisters. And now I am all that is left. I sit in my darkened rooms, an old woman, passing my days rustling through their letters and my memories. If I am careful, and still, I can hear their voices once again.

Editorial Reviews

"Sally Christie's The Sisters of Versailles is an intriguing romp through Louis XV's France. Filled with lush backdrops, rich detail, and colorful characters, fans of historical fiction will enjoy this glimpse into the lost golden era of the French monarchy."

Allison Pataki

A stunning breadth of period detail, offered in a fresh, contemporary voice.

Juliet Grey

Tantalizing descriptions and cliff-hangers will leave the reader rapidly turning the pages in anticipation… A wickedly delightful read.

New York Daily News

"Filled with lush backdrops, rich detail, and colorful characters, fans of historical fiction will enjoy this glimpse into the lost golden era of the French monarchy." Allison Pataki, author of The Accidental Empress

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

The Sisters of Versailles: A Novel 4.2 out of 5based on
0 ratings.
16 reviews.

gaele

More than 1 year ago

The first in a new trilogy focused on the 18th Century French Court of Louis XV, the Nesle sisters, four of whom occupied the position of mistress, is detailed with lush imagery, treachery fitting the most twisted thriller, the opulence and over the top splendor of Versailles all in a story that explores the effects of power, betrayal, competition and family in a story that brings history to life.
I love the court drama, sometimes even more animated and always more treacherous than one would expect. This story reads much like favorites (Pillars of the Earth) as the sisters are all developed and detailed: personalities, physical types, even moralities are different. With Hortense being the only sister NOT a mistress to Louis, we run through the sisters, and see their machinations within the family bonds, not to mention the behind the back maneuvering within the court. All struggling for power, presence and admiration – from one and all. Starting with Louise and moving on shortly to Pauline: the truly bitter and life altering interactions are gobsmacking. Frenemies have nothing on these women: and sadly, each was a brilliant strategist: were they born in another time, or had more options available to them – they could have ruled the world. But, boredom, greed, limited options and the family connections turned their attentions inward, as each slowly worked to destroy their rivals/sisters in benefit of their own rise on the ladder.
This is gripping, telenovela-style drama that is all the more intriguing (and heart wrenching) for the fact that these were real women involved in real situations. The historical research in this novel is impeccable, descriptions are lush and evocative and the people… well, suffice it to say that the revolution against the rulers in France is understood better after seeing the attitudes, the wastefulness and the unrestrained behavior of the court. A wonderful read, I can’t wait for the next.
I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Anonymous

8 days ago

Colorful telling of a time forgotten and sisters lives. A very good read

SherreyM

More than 1 year ago

FTC Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher via iRead Book Tours in exchange for a fair and honest review. Opinions expressed are mine.
Welcome to the world of early 18th century France, King Louis XV’s court, and the redoubtable Nesle sisters. Five in all–Louise, Pauline, Diane, Hortense, and Marie-Anne. Four of the five become mistresses to King Louis XV, and their various maneuvers against one another to rise to this coveted position are in turn shocking, amazing, and yes, even humorous.
For us to believe what people, especially women, went through to find favor at court is beyond our wildest imaginations and comprehension. Even more amazing in our society, most of the manipulating was done by men using women to achieve their goals. Despite the fact this concept is disgusting, it is what happened and The Sisters of Versailles take us on a deviously funny romp through the King’s courts in Versailles.
To share with you the details of the four sisters’ rise to Louis’s arm and chamber would be to deprive you of a historical read like none you’ve likely read before.
Cast alongside Philippa Gregory’s works or those of C.W. Gortner, Sally Christie’s debut novel includes richly developed characters who, as young girls and sisters, realistically do and say anything to get a leg up in gaining the King’s attentions. Herein lies Christie’s writing gift of taking what could be dark and drab historical fact and twisting it with just enough wit to keep the pages turning rapidly.
A lover of historical fiction, I could not wait to read about King Louis XV’s court and follies at Versailles. The color, grand fashion and decoration, music, excessive lifestyle is fascinating, not to mention the scandals growing day-by-day inside the walls at Versailles.
The Sisters of Versailles is one of the best historical novels I’ve read in a great while, and I applaud Sally Christie on adding humor to her manuscript in order to bring to light that most of us, both past and present, enjoy a sense of humor and the ability to use it.
If you love the 18th century, the courts of kings and queens, and mistresses, you will indeed find a romping and stellar piece of historical fiction drawn in the finery and gilding of Versailles. Enjoy it for yourself, or share it with a friend, or opt to give it as a gift to a fellow lover of historical fiction.

reececo331

More than 1 year ago

The Sisters of Versailles
by Sally Christie
I love how the book takes pains to hide which of the five sisters is the one writing the book. As you go through the various stories and view points of the sisters it is difficult to see whom misses the kings bed, and who is the author of the story. The beautiful descriptions and various view points make this an enchanting book, ready for the young adult and the kid at heart. A great look into a distant past overshadowed by history.
I will recommend this book to my daughter. And any high school age girl who loves history.

laKa0711

More than 1 year ago

Five sisters all connected in some way to King Louis XV, fighting for power and to be his mistress?! How scandalous! And how intriguing! This book was pure gold. Christie banters back and forth between all the sisters, including both narrative and letters they wrote back and forth to each other. I loved seeing the story and struggle from each of their points-of-view! The story was full of drama, intrigue, power, and romance, romance for both the king and for each other as sisters. Positively thrilling! There are a lot of other characters throughout the book that sometimes I confused, but not enough that it had an effect on the story itself. Even better, the entire premise of the story is wrote based on actual facts. Yes, the book is historical fiction but the idea came from actual accounts. As a debut author, Christie is someone I am definitely looking forward to reading more from. She uses GREAT vocabulary. I'm all about the use of the word "pious." Don't ask. I have weird quirks :) I can't wait for books two and three, The Rivals of Versailles and The Enemies of Versailles, both due to be released this year, to complete the Mistresses of Versailles trilogy. My only fault, I wish I would have read this book sooner!
Check out my full review at http://readinglikeafool.blogspot.com

MerryWifeofWindsor

More than 1 year ago

The five de Mailly-Nesle sisters live in the paradisaical Quai des Théatins with their parents, the Marquis and Marquise de Nesle et de Mailly. As the five sisters: Louise, Pauline, Diane, Hortense, and Marie-Anne come to grips with growing up and leaving their nursery at the Quai des Théatins, each starts out on her own adventure. Louise, the eldest de Mailly-Nesle sister gets married early on in the story and finds herself trapped in nothing short of a loveless marriage. At Versailles, sweet and sanguine Louise tends to the King Louis XV’s Polish consort, Queen Marie Leszczyńska.
When tragedy befalls the de Mailly-Nesle family, the four younger sisters are split apart from each other. Pauline and Diane are immediately sent off to a convent whereas Hortense and Marie-Anne are taken in by their curmudgeon Tante Mazarin. Pauline is far from happy being locked away in a convent and writes incessantly to Louise in order to convince her to invite her to Versailles. She is of a jealous predisposition and is known as being the most repulsive of the sisters, with her swarthy complexion and such large eyebrows. Diane is a silly airhead of a girl, finding great joy in the simple things of life and always talking of food. On the other hand, Diane is known to be rather plump and she is also as sweet as their sister Louise.
Hortense and Marie-Anne, who live with their Tante Mazarin, have something of a similar experience. Hortense is perhaps the most pious as well as the loveliest of all of the de Mailly-Nesle sisters. Marie-Anne, on the other hand, is an independent young woman with a mind of her own and, on top of that, she is immensely ambitious. In time, the sisters have news of the fact that their eldest sister, Louise has officially become the mistress of King Louis. When Tante Mazarin hears of this, she urges her nieces to stay far away from their “harlot” of a sister.
In time, all sisters (although each on a different journey) end up at Versailles in one instance or another. Each sister is vastly different and each one of them has a varied experience with the king himself. Little does each sister know that they are at war with each other, Versailles is their battlefield, and the King is the ultimate prize. Who will win?
Ms. Christie’s novel “The Sisters of Versailles” was a delightful treat from start to finish. I found all of the sisters to be intriguing characters, despite the fact that I liked some and completely disliked the others. In terms of who my favorite was, that would be Hortense. Albeit she was never a mistress of King Louis, there was something about her that was all the more wiser, as opposed to her love-struck sisters (who were sometimes cast aside). It was enjoyable seeing how the sisters interacted with each other as well as the personalities that were so unique to each character. What had me giggling at times were the letters from Pauline to Louise (when she was attempting to convince her to invite her to Versailles) where she acted sisterly or "sororal" but it was apparent she was buttering her up.
The writing quality was fantastic and it was apparent that the author really did a great deal of research when it came to the five sisters. This book is definitely one that I fervently recommend. It made me laugh, suffused me with joy, and made me cry in equal measure.
** Reviewed by the Merry Wife of Windsor **
www.MerryWifeofWindsor.com

AustenStudent

More than 1 year ago

In a time before the French revolution and the Reign of Terror, Sally Christie writes a sweeping saga of the five real-life de Nesle sisters, four of whom served as mistress to King Louis XV.
The dramatic and romantic lives of five women in early eighteenth-century France comes alive in this melancholy story. Louise, Pauline, Hortense, Diane, and Marie-Anne, though convent raised and educated, are truly cruel to one another. Born to a life of privilege and wealth, they play out their fears, the struggles for power and survival, and their pleasures at the palace of Versailles in the court of King Louis XV.
Everyone’s manners are impeccable but no one talks straight: their words are sinewy and slippy like eels. The courtiers play word games with double and sometimes triple entendres; compliments are not compliments yet they are; meaning depends not on the words but on who is speaking, and about what. Everyone is extremely assiduous in telling other unpleasant truths.
Ms. Christie loosely bases her fictional account on real people and events. She tells her tale in alternating letters between all the sisters as well as chapters told in the third person giving the reader each sister’s point of view. We feel Louise’s fears and sadness, are appalled by Pauline and Marie-Anne’s dissatisfaction and stratagems, smile at Diane’s consistent good humor and silliness, and admire Hortense’s calm and orderly life.
Hortense, the middle and only sister to not become the king’s mistress, opens and closes the book in 1799. She is an old woman reflecting on her life and her complex relationships with all her sisters. Hortense is the most traditional, marrying for love, having children, and remaining pious and respectable throughout her long life.
The eldest sister, Louise, is the first to go to Versailles when she becomes lady-in-waiting to the queen, Louis’ Polish wife. At first, the married relationship between king and queen is faithful but when Louis eventually becomes bored, the political machinations of court persuade Louise to become his mistress.
Everyone here is most astonishingly free and very few people remain faithful to or even cordial with their spouses. Most have lovers, sometimes even multiple lovers at once.
But when one is surrounded by vice, that which shocks quickly becomes normal.
For Louise, unfortunately, it becomes a lifelong love for a powerful, fickle, and ultimately weak man. But when Louis eventually tires of Louise, he replaces her with her sister, Pauline, who seduces and maneuvers her way from the convent to Versailles and power.
Louise is the kindest hearted of the de Nesle sisters and has dreams of happiness in love and marriage. Her disappointments in her romantic relationships and with her sisters are a far cry from the life she hoped for herself.
Pauline and Marie-Anne are the manipulative and spiteful sisters in their power struggles to become mistress to a king. The way they plot and lure the king away from their rivals is distasteful and unpleasant. I was reminded of another sly and scheming Pauline, the woman who aggressively drew Ernest Hemingway away from his first wife, Hadley.
Diane (who was actually Louis’ first mistress in real life but is his fourth mistress here), is a lighthearted and loving soul, a plump woman who adores eating and who gets along with all her sisters.
For the rest of my review: http://bit.ly/1jZVyz5

Mirella

More than 1 year ago

The Sisters of Versailles is a biographical fiction novel about the five Nesle sisters, four of which became the mistresses of King Louis XV. They are Louise, Pauline, Adelaide, Hortense, and Marie Anne. The novelist did an excellent job of recreating the grandeur of the 18th century French court of the "Sun King". She aptly describes the lush glittering palaces, luxurious gowns, the cruel and painful intrigues, and disturbing cramped living conditions some of the lesser members of the court endured. The novel is written in the first person point of view of the sisters, which clearly brought to life their personalities and differences. The characters each developed uniquely, brilliantly, and in sometimes unpredictable ways.
As with all biographical novels, there are times when the pace slows a bit, but in this case, the interest in court life kept me reading with keeness. This is the introductory book of a planned trilogy about these fascinating sisters, and I'm definitely looking forward to the next two installments, which swill bring to life some of the king's more notorious mistresses.
Thank you to the author and publisher. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

Excellent book! I've read a lot about this period of history but had not heard of these sisters and their relationship to Louis XV. Kept my interest thoroughly! Will look forward to more books from this author.

Beverly_D

More than 1 year ago

I was intrigued by the title and book descriptions and in fact, Louis the Well-beloved had an interesting connection to the five Nesle-Mailly sisters, making at least a few of them his mistresses. I was impressed by the Author Notes about what she was and was not able to verify - I love when novelists show that kind of integrity!
I received a free ARC of this book from Netgalley.
The book itself... while the characters of the sisters were very different, and interesting, as was the way they interacted with one another, I found it a little slow. Part of that may have been in the style - first person narrative by each sister interspersed with letters from each sister. I did like the way everything was neatly tied together at the end, and overall, I enjoyed the read.

MaraBlaise

More than 1 year ago

I think the most amazing thing about this book is that is actually based on a true story about 4 out of 5 sisters that all became mistresses to King Louis XV. It sounds incredible, but it's really true, and I had no idea about it. I have never ever heard about these sisters before I read the book. The mistress that came after them, well she is well known, but the sweet Louise, the ambitious Pauline, the happy Diane and shrewd Marie-Anne are not as known as Madame du Pompadour.
Anyway, I felt that Sally Christie really captured both the time and the characters truly well. A historical fiction is truly good when the characters and the setting comes to life and it feels like you for a moment also are at Court with the sisters. You live with them, and you feel for them when something bad happens to them. There were several times that I thought “thank God that I didn't live at that time” and also sometimes like when a woman carries her dog in her bag it feels like things haven't change that much.
I would like to say that I liked a sister or two better than the other, but I liked and disliked them all through the book. They really didn't feel like blood sisters always with all the backstabbing. For some of them, being a mistresses to the king was more of a mission than real passion. The one that loved him the most (in my opinion) Louise had to watch how her sisters one by one took over as the mistresses and for most of the time I was annoyed over how placid she was, but in the end she seems to have finally found her call. It's interesting that Hortense, the one sister that was the most beautiful never ended up as the kings mistresses, but then again she loved her husband and seemed to be the one with the most happy marriage with Diane coming second.
I must admit that the character I found most intriguing in the book was not any of the sisters or the king. It was Richelieu. Alas, his flirting with Marie-Anne let unfortunately nowhere.
It was a good book, I enjoyed reading it. Loved the letters between the sister that glossed over the truth a bit. It was nice to get a history lesson and at the same time being entertained. But I found the narrative, with shifting between sisters not always to my liking, probably because some of them were more interesting than the other and not everything that happened was that interesting, like Pauline and Diane at the convent. Not that the story dragged out or anything, I was just not always engrossed with it. But I loved the ending, the very emotional and sad ending. Just the kind I like!
I received this copy from the publisher through Edelweiss in return for an honest review! Thank you!

girlwithcamera

More than 1 year ago

Madame de Pompadour comes to mind when we think of Louis XV. She was his official chief mistress, aide and advisor in governmental matters. What is little known is that, prior to her arrival on the scene, a family of four daughters, the Nesle de Maille sisters, played a role in the life of Louis le bien aimé's Court at Versailles.
These four very different, uneducated women, daughters of an impoverished nobleman one by one end up at the glittering court of Versailles, a hotbed of jealousy, intrigue and scandal. The story is narrated by each of the sisters so we get a glimpse into their individual personalites through the letters written to each other. What I enjoyed about the story is the unpredictability of their actions at Versailles, despite being privy to their innermost thoughts throughout the storyline.
As a lover of European history, I enjoy reading the work of authors such as Alison Weir, Sandra Gulland and Philippa Gregory, amongst others. I would consider this novel to be "light" historical fiction because the story revolved more around the "romantic" lives of these five women and less about the historical events of the time. I was unable to develop an affinity for any of the women in this book, perhaps due to the lack of character development.
I was dismayed by the use of the "F-word" in several places. I really did not think that this was historically appropriate or necessary for this type of book. Because of the mature situations, I would consider this book to be PG-13 + M.
Despite its 417 pages, I consider Christie's book to be a pleasant, light read.

wordsandpeace

More than 1 year ago

Extremely engaging debut on eighteenth century French court. A king plus four sisters: a recipe for intrigues masterfully presented for the first time in English. A must for all historical fiction lovers.
British royalty could well be one of the most common current topics of historical fiction.
Little by little however, Anglophone writers start to pay more attention to the other side of the pond. The French court has definitely its share of fascinating characters and intrigues to satisfy all readers fond of the genre. Imagine for instance a king having four sisters of the same family as his mistresses! Ah, ze French! Yes, King XV (1710-1774) did it, before bedding even more famous women (to come in Sally Christie’s next two books!).
The novel is about the life of the sisters and of the French court of the time.
The narrator of each chapter alternates between the sisters. At the end of each chapter, each written in the first person, there’s an epistolary exchange between two sisters or more. I really enjoyed this style of writing. The alternation between the retelling and the letters made the whole book quite lively. Plus, it allowed a better glimpse at the character of each sister (they are so different!) and at the dramatic interaction and feelings developing all along the book between them. Some passages are even hilarious and you can’t miss the sarcasm, especially in Pauline’s tone.
The novel is extremely rich at so many other levels. Let me try to highlight what made it so special for me (details on my blog Words And Peace, too long for here).
I guess you understand by now why I absolutely loved this book and can’t wait to read the two upcoming books of the trilogy.
Bravo to Sally Christie for her debut novel!

Cecile-Sune-Book-Obsessed

More than 1 year ago

The five Mailly-Nesle sisters lived in early 18th century France. After their mother passed away, the sisters were separated. Louise, the eldest had just gotten married and was a lady-in-waiting to the queen. Pauline and Diane had been sent to a convent, but they dreamt of living in Versailles. Hortense and Marie-Anne stayed with their aunt in a pious and quiet environment. Eventually, four of the five sisters would successively become mistresses of King Louis XV. This is their incredible story, full of intrigue and heartbreak.
The Sisters of Versailles is the first book in the Versailles trilogy about the mistresses of Louis XV. The author wanted at first to write a non-fiction about the Mailly-Nesle sisters, but decided on fiction instead, as there was little information available when she conducted her research. Sally Christie has an entertaining and humorous writing style. I especially enjoyed the excuses Pauline invents for the reasons why Diane rarely writes to Louise. Moreover, each sister has a distinct personality. Diane, a clumsy and candid young woman, was my favorite as she was a good person and lacked the artifice of the courtiers. However, the dialogues were sometimes too contemporary for a historical fiction. In addition, I would have liked to know more about their father and what happened to him. On the whole though, this was a fascinating novel, and I can’t wait for the second book in the series, The Rivals of Versailles, that will tell the story of Madame de Pompadour.
The Sisters of Versailles was sent to me for free in exchange for an honest review.
Please go to my blog, Cecile Sune - Bookobsessed, if you would like to read more reviews or discover fun facts about books and authors.

CinaCC

More than 1 year ago

The Sisters of Versailles is a royal must read! Truly and ever so wildly entertaining with courtly intrigue, served with more than generous helpings of juicy gossip and scandal, it is a wonder why these sisters haven’t received much more attention that they assuredly deserve. It is noted that they have never been written about before in English, which is insanely hard to believe. I have, admittedly, only read through their Wikipedia pages on a whim, so that is only the reason I knew about these women prior to reading The Sisters of Versailles.
Meet the Mailly-Nesle sisters, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. The eldest is the sweet Louise, then comes overly ambitious Pauline, content Diane, scheming Marie-Anne, and lastly the angelic Hortense. Four out of five of the sisters would eventually become the favored mistress of King Louis XV of France. To love and be loved by a king is not at all like that of a fairytale, especially when it’s sister against sister. The lines between of ambition, love, and greed are blurred.
Of the five, my favorite sisters are Louise and Hortense. I believe Louise was the one who might have really loved Louis the most and she suffered the most for it. Pauline and Marie-Anne got what they deserved. Diane was one I neither liked nor hated. Hortense lived a long life, and while she made what I thought were better choices in her life compared to those of her sisters, she agonized for them and missed them all greatly.
Being completely fascinated from beginning to end with The Sisters of Versailles, I cannot wait for what Sally Christie has next up her sleeve with such a strong start to what will be a not-to-be-missed trilogy!

Griperang72a

More than 1 year ago

This is the first book that I have read by this author and I have to say that I did enjoy this book. The author did a good job with her writing and made a real story come to life on the pages for me. You can really tell that the author did her research as it shows in the details of the story. One of my favorite parts was the letters that the sisters wrote to each other. They made you feel as if you were one of them and were waiting for your next letter. You have five sisters and each of them have a different personality. There is Louise, Pauline, Diane, Hortense and Marie-Anne. Louise is in love with the queen but is niave about many thing, Pauline is not nice at all, Diane who seems to not be very smart, Hortense who was the only sister to not be a mistress to the King. Marie-Anne who is stuck on herself. I am not sure which sister I liked the best. This was a good start to a new series and I am looking forward to book 2.

THE BASIC STORY LINE When Julio Milano arrives at his girlfriend Tabitha's apartment, he finds
her dying. Her throat has been slashed. Valerie, Tabitha's seven-year-old daughter, chillingly asks Julio to kill the person who murdered her mother. He responds, He ...

In this monumental historical novel of the late twentieth and early twenty-first century, Lev Arkady
survives the murder of his entire family in the closing days of World War II. Rescued by the ultimate showman and huckster, Old Amos, a ...

At Harvard, Jennifer Collins and Brian Thomas were inseparable. Sharing a love for the outdoors
almost as deep as their love for each other, the two dreamed of trekking the remote trails of the world together. But on graduation day ...

The house had history. Perhaps too much history. 362 Belisle Street is a homeowner's dream.
A nice neighborhood, close to schools, new hardwood floors, unique original detail. So why then, wonders real estate agent Glenn Darnley, won't this charming property ...

From critically acclaimed, multiple-award winner Laura Lippman comes a riveting story of love and murder,
guilt and innocence.Two little girls banished from a neighborhood birthday party find an abandoned stroller with an infant inside on an unfamiliar Baltimore street. What ...

Making a Murderer meets Scandal in this story of police corruption, family secrets, and illicit
affairs from bestselling author K.A. Tucker, celebrated for her “propulsive plot twists and searing seduction” (USA TODAY).Noah Marshall has known a privileged and comfortable life ...

Marriage isn’t easy—especially without honesty. In this exploration of love, intimacy, guilt, and infidelity, two
people learn what happens when their feelings get in the way of the truth.For Sydney Holmes and Brandon Carter, love is losing its strength. Infidelity ...

“If you liked Big Little Lies, you’ll want to crack open this new novel by
Nicole Baart.” —Southern Living “Steeped in menace, Baart’s latest is a race-to-the-finish family drama.” —People An engrossing and suspenseful novel for fans of Liane Moriarty ...